Sandwich lovers help Oktibbeha fire department

June 10--STARKVILLE -- One Oktibbeha County volunteer fire department has $25,000 in new equipment, thanks to Firehouse Subs.

The restaurant's Public Safety Foundation provided a grant to purchase a new set of Jaws of Life extrication tools -- a cutter, spreader and ram -- that cost $24,956.

"The new set is battery-powered, so you don't have to worry about hauling the hoses and hydraulic pump to the site," said firefighter Austin Check, of the District 5 volunteer fire department, which covers the southeast corner of Oktibbeha County. "You don't understand what this means to us.

"It would take us two budget years of not buying anything, not even gas for the truck, to buy these ourselves."

This is the third time in two years that the foundation has awarded a grant to a Golden Triangle fire department. The Starkville and West Point departments split about $40,000.

The foundation started in 2005 and uses a variety of methods to raise funds for fire departments. The restaurants sell empty 5-gallon pickle buckets for $2. They also ask customers to round up their totals to the next dollar, with the extra change going in the pot. More than $18 million has been raised by the more than 980 restaurants over the last 11 years.

"Of the 40 stores in my region, (the Starkville location) always has the highest fundraising totals for the foundation," said Firehouse Subs area representative Jim Maxwell.

Store owner William Craig said he works with the managers and employees of the restaurant to encourage customers to help.

"He are happy to be able to help, especially the volunteer departments that cover the more rural areas and don't always have the funding," Craig said.

The District 5 VFD has two stations and covers around 86 square miles that is mostly forest. But thanks to grants and a new fire engine, the department was able to lower their insurance rating to a Class 7.

"I've been told that homeowners will be able to see up to a 15 percent reduction in their insurance costs because of the change," Check said. "We are thrilled to be one of just five alternative water supply departments in the state to make a Class 7."

Instead of fire hydrants, the department has a series of elevated tanks scattered around the districts. In the event of a fire, the department has tankers that can quickly transfer 3,000 gallons of water to the scene.

"We can load 3,000 gallons in about two minutes," Check said. "The biggest challenge is coordinating the tankers and controlling traffic at the scene."

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